Sequoias Drops Series to Merced

VISALIA, Calif. – The state-ranked #25 College of the Sequoias baseball team (10-7, 4-2) opened its three-game series against Merced (4-11, 2-4) with a convincing win but dropped the next two games, falling in a high-scoring game at home before losing a close one on the road. The Giants now sit at 10-7 overall and 4-2 in conference play. 

Game 1 – Sequoias 11, Merced 7 (Feb. 25) 

College of the Sequoias started the series with a strong 11-7 road win, powered by early offense and a stellar outing from Tyson Kilbreath (Alberta). 

The Giants struck quickly, scoring six runs in the first three innings. Ned Ceklic (Alberta) opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the first, bringing in Walker Selley (Bermuda). In the third, Diego Sanchez (Bakersfield Christian HS) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run before Manny Veleta (Highland HS) lined a two-RBI single, making it 6-0. 

Kilbreath dominated on the mound, allowing just one run over seven innings while striking out six. The Giants extended their lead in the seventh with a five-run outburst, highlighted by a two-run double from Jonathon Ortega (El Diamante HS) and a two-RBI single from Noah Gonzales (Clovis East HS). 

Merced scored six late runs, including a three-run double from Logan Baptista and a two-run homer from Braxton Riley, but Aaron Prieto (Fowler HS) closed it out to secure the win. 

"Kilbreath set the tone for us, and we had some great at-bats early," Head Coach Jody Allen said. "We let them back in late, but overall, we played a solid game." 

Game 2 – Merced 12, Sequoias 10 (Feb. 27) 

A nine-run third inning wasn't enough for Sequoias to hold on, as Merced clawed back to take a 12-10 victory. 

The Giants exploded in the third, sending 13 batters to the plate. Alex Lopez (Golden West HS) got things started with a two-run double, followed by RBI hits from Selley, Ceklic, Veleta, and Medina. Payton Garcia (Redwood HS) capped the inning with a two-run homer, making it 9-0. 

Merced answered immediately, scoring five runs in the fourth before adding seven unanswered runs over the next four innings. Henry Warden's two-run single in the eighth gave Merced a 12-10 lead, completing the comeback. 

"We put ourselves in a great position to win, but we didn't finish the job," Allen said. "We have to be better at keeping the pressure on when we get a big lead." 

Game 3 – Merced 8, Sequoias 5 (March 1) 

In the series finale, Sequoias fell behind early and couldn't complete the comeback, dropping an 8-5 road contest. 

The Giants took an early 1-0 lead on a Selley RBI double, but Merced responded with five runs in the first two innings, capitalizing on walks and errors. Alex Lopez kept COS in the game with a two-run homer in the fifth, and Bryson Leyva (El Diamante HS) added an RBI single in the eighth, cutting the deficit to 8-4. 

Sequoias put two runners on in the ninth but couldn't bring them home, sealing the loss. Hudson Groh (Liberty HS) took the loss after allowing five runs in two innings. 

"We gave up too many free bases early, and that hurt us," Allen said. "We competed until the final out, but we have to play cleaner baseball if we want to win the close ones." 

On Deck 

The Giants will look to bounce back as they return to action this week in a two-game non-conference series at #10 Folsom Lake College (11-6, 1-2). The Giants aim to clean up their mistakes and return to their winning ways.